Strolling through Montréal's botanical gardens

Espace pour la vie is a foundation and a museum complex that brings together 5 of Montreal's most impressive museums. The Montréal Botanical Garden was built in 1931. Nature, research and protection are at the heart of this gathering.

The biodôme

The Montréal biodôme brings together 5 different ecosystems from the Americas. Enjoy a unique experience at the heart of representations of various fauna and flora.

The biosphere

The Montréal Biosphère is the museum of the environment, housed in a geodesic dome that resembles a large bubble.

The insectarium

The Montréal Insectarium is a huge museum dedicated to insects. It is considered to be one of the most important in the world.

Surprises await you at the Montréal Botanical Garden.

The Rio Tinto Alcan planetarium

The Montréal planetarium is a space dedicated to astronomy and space. The architecture of its two theatres is unique in the country.

The Botanical Garden

The Montréal Botanical Garden is considered one of the largest botanical gardens in the world.

Built in 1931, the Montréal Botanical Garden is one of the largest in the world. It was designed by Henry Teuscher and Frederick Gage Todd, two landscape architects, and Brother Marie-Victorin, a young botanist. Although the difficulties of the Great Depression weighed heavily on the garden's design, the main building and reception gardens were inaugurated in 1939. The Chinese garden is now part of the Montréal Botanical Garden.

The Chinese garden, a relaxing change of scenery

The Chinese garden is a pleasant and harmonious change of scenery. In the 1990s, more than 120 containers arrived directly from China to create this Chinese garden. Today, it is certainly one of the most photographed parts of the botanical garden. A large lake sits at the centre of the garden, surrounded by red and white houses, pointed roofs and wooden sculptures. It's a place that has been carefully thought out and meticulously preserved by the botanical garden team.

Contemplating the Japanese garden

Take a trip to Japan with a stroll through the Japanese garden. Between the tea garden, the dry garden and the strolling garden, your stroll will be on the theme of tranquillity and contemplation. Here and there, flowers, fountains and streams. Japanese landscape architect Ken Nakajima has created a contemporary, sober and enchanting garden.

The First Nations Garden, a historic walk

The most recent of the cultural gardens is the First Nations Garden. It opened in 2001 and presents the sacred relationship between Canada's Inuit and the plant world. It showcases the knowledge and skills of Canada's Aboriginal peoples, in particular :

• Gathering wild plants
• making objects from natural materials
• building homes using the resources of an ecosystem
• growing plants such as maize, squash and beans

Dozens of exotic species in thermal greenhouses

There are 10 thermal greenhouses in the Montréal Botanical Garden. They are made up of various species of flowers, cacti and other succulent plants. It's an exciting sensory journey for all the family.